America's Selective Expansion

• In Event: Interstate Power Dynamics

Abstract

Among western nations, the United States enjoyed a unique growth pattern. During its period of state development and centralization in the 19th century, American leaders did not pursue all opportunities to increase their territory or access to resources. Instead, using domestic impact theory, it is clear that there was a strong focus on maintaining the dominance of the Anglo-Saxon race which led to selective annexation. US leaders would purchase, conquer, or steal land with sparse populations while forgoing others with large diverse populations. Despite these preferences, as the territory grew, American leaders continued to engage in heated debates over the capacity of a self-governing nation to rule over the expanding territory with an increasing diversity of races, religions, and ethnicities. The most heated debate occurred at the end of the Spanish-American war when leaders had too decide whether to annex Puerto Rico, Cuba, Guam and the Philippines. The decisions to annex Puerto Rico, give Cuba independence, and rule over Guam and the Philippines demonstrates the selective application of liberal principles that would become a staple of US foreign policy decision making over the course of the 20th century.

Author

• Sarah Burns, Rochester Institute of Technology